Our Philosophy
to make the Best CamP
Let the kids play.
Over decades of teaching kids outside we noticed some things...
Kids are Curious
Inspiring awe is at the root of what we do at Lure of the Wild Nature Camps. But we don’t force it by constantly telling kids what to do or not do. We let them discover wonder and build curiosity and self confidence through their own experiences and self-regulated challenges, with minimal adult intervention, and in a completely natural setting. We focus on providing children opportunities for unstructured play in the outdoors to benefit their social and emotional development and health while fostering a deeper connection to nature. We help guide children through conflict resolution using positive discipline strategies, and give them the opportunity to use their own best judgement to challenge themselves, try new things, and test their own abilities, only giving gentle guidance as needed and from an observational, child development-based approach. At Lure of the Wild, campers are free to be their naturally capable, resourceful, and resilient selves.
KIDS ARE RESOURCEFUL
Many parents inquire what “activities” their kids will do at camp. The answer is PLENTY of activities – the ones that the campers come up with themselves! In their purposefully small, counselor-assisted groups, campers can pretty much do ANYTHING they come up with – They design, build, and test forts and other structures, study what makes the perfect skipping stone, or make up their own games and stories through pretend play (yes, even the eldest campers discover their natural creativity at camp). All this while in an environment where they can search for and learn about small critters and wildlife. Our campers have endless possibilities– every day, week, and season is unique! And, when the occasional pang of boredom finds its way in, we help them embrace downtime and encourage them to think creatively, arguably a skill that every growing person needs in an increasingly AI-influenced world.
Kids are Careful
Children are innately curious, capable, and resilient. We provide a space for kids (and you, their parents) to naturally extend their personal comfort zones as they pay attention to how they feel. Growth and learning happen best when we are free to test our ideas and experience new things, and while we as parents might not be able to see it ourselves, nearly all children do it with care and self-preservation in mind. We actively encourage them to pay attention to their feelings and observations, and give them space to tackle their own new challenges as they feel ready. Our campers grow and build on their experiences, and parents see the difference each day.
Kids love "Simple"
Simple is better. Giving kids the space to make their own connections allows them to be fully engaged in learning all sorts of things that interest them. More often than not our campers get so caught up in their self-motivated fun that they find themselves in a state of “psychological flow” where they lose track of time as their brains are hard at play (what Fred Rogers called the “work of childhood”). Our campers are constantly connecting things they already know to new observations. Teachers call this “scaffolding” or “proximal development.” They get excited about learning. Each camper’s day is a learning feedback loop that activates curiosity and builds knowledge better than any kind of mundane, adult-led “activity” at traditional summer camps.
Kids are Helpful
Kids naturally learn to be helpful by working with one another. Blending children of different ages creates unique opportunities for growth and learning. Younger children benefit from observing, imitating, and receiving guidance from older peers, while older children gain confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of responsibility. This dynamic fosters collaboration, creativity, and mutual respect in a way that traditional age-segregated groups cannot. Age mixing encourages natural mentoring and shared discovery, enriching the experiences of all children involved. Developmental Psychologist Peter Gray explains here.
Camp is like Family
Together with you, we are a Camp Family. Families last generations, and we want to help you connect yours more strongly to our shared natural and wild spaces so that those spaces will be there for generations to come. Our children are tomorrow’s environmental stewards. Like families need one another, our children need nature, and nature needs them.
